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My Current Book “crack” Reading Recommendations

Angela’s Reading List
Back in the day (aka before kids) I used to read a ton.  I was a huge Anne Rice fan and have read just about everything she has ever written.  In addition to reading fantasy books, I also liked reading historical novels, murder mystery, horror and it wouldn’t be good book unless there was a good mix of strong female characters and tasty male treats. This past summer I reacquainted myself with my love of books by taking a hit of an addiction called “Twilight” and spent a week not sleeping but reading all 4.5 books (partial of book 5 is published online).  So, I now I admit I may have a reading addiction now BUT to be honest its the only thing that has kept me sane…ok that and drinking. :p
Seriously, its like a vacation every time I settle into a book. So, I thought I would share my book “crack” with all of you and hopefully you’ll return the favor and offer some of your favorite getaways as well.  I should note that my current reading criteria is that it can’t have anything to do with my reality, meaning, I don’t want to read about dishes, laundry, dirty diapers, marriage conflicts, kids, traffic, world hunger, people dieing of cancer, political propaganda, financial woes, etc;

Twilight Series 4 total books - Great reads (most of you have already been there done that), totally sucks you in and at the end you are totally pining for Edward. …sad but true!

Sookie Stackhouse series by Charliane Harris - The HBO True Blood series is based on these books but let me just say the show is NOTHING like the books. The books are fun, sexy, usually murder mystery and fantasy. They are a bit naughty but I enjoy a bit of naughty….;)  I have read books 1-10 AND loved them all.

The novels and short story collections
  1. Dead Until Dark (May 2001) [2]
  2. Living Dead in Dallas (March 2002) [3]
  3. Club Dead (May 2003) [4]
  4. Dead to the World (May 2004) [5]
    • “Fairy Dust” in Powers of Detection (October 2004) - Introduction of Claudine’s brother Claude, and posthumous introduction of their sister Claudette[6]
    • “Dancers in the Dark” a novella in Night’s Edge (October 2004) - Indroduction of Sean and Layla, later seen briefly in All Together Dead.[7]
      • (a Sookie-universe story without the character of Sookie Stackhouse)
    • “Dracula Night” in Many Bloody Returns (September 2007) [8]
  5. Dead as a Doornail (May 2005) [9]
  6. Definitely Dead (May 2006) [11]
    • “Tacky” in My Big, Fat Supernatural Wedding (2006) - Introduction of vampires Dahlia and Taffy, and their ex-husbands Todd and Don. (Dahlia is later seen in All Together Dead and with Taffy in “Bacon”.)[12]
      • (a Sookie-universe story without the character of Sookie Stackhouse)
  7. All Together Dead (May 2007) [13]
    • “Lucky” in Unusual Suspects (December 2008) [14]
  8. From Dead to Worse (May 2008) [15]
    • “Gift Wrap” in Wolfsbane and Mistletoe (October 2008) [16]
  9. Dead and Gone (May 2009) [17]
    • “Bacon” in Strange Brew (July 2009) [17]
      • (a Sookie-universe story without the character of Sookie Stackhouse)
    • “The Britlingens Go To Hell” in Must Love Hellhounds (September 2009) - The Britlingens were previously introduced in All Together Dead. [17]
      • (a Sookie-universe story without the character of Sookie Stackhouse)
  10. A Touch of Dead (October 2009) [17]
    • (a compilation of some of the Sookie-universe short stories: “Fairy Dust,” “One Word Answer,” “Dracula Night,” “Lucky,” and “Giftwrap.”)
  11. Dead in the Family (May 2010) [17]
  12. Death’s Excellent Vacation (August 2010) [17]

Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon - Historical Fiction/Fantasy (7 books). - The first 2 books are a really fun, interesting and has characters you will really enjoy. She is kinda wordy but worth reading the 700-1000 pages. I really enjoy the historical tid bits and of course there was some naughty WHICH you know I like. :-)  The first 2 books are must reads and once you’ve fallen in love with the beautiful Highlander you will go back for more.

Outlander (Cross Stitch[1] in UK) (1991)

Dragonfly in Amber (1992) Voyager (1994) Drums of Autumn (1997) The Fiery Cross (2001) A Breath of Snow and Ashes (2005) An Echo in the Bone (2009) — released in many countries (including Canada, Australia and New Zealand) in September 2009; UK release date January 7, 2010

Anita Blake series by Laurell K. Hamilton - I really love the Anita Blake character.  She is a small unassuming gal that turns out to be pretty kick ass.  She is a vampire executioner for the government, she raises zombies for her day job and works with the police to solve paranormal crimes.  The first 6 books are her solving crimes and kicking ass.  Starting around book 7 things start to get a little racy.  I had to shut my prude-odometer off and just go with the flow.  Admittedly, certain seems made me feel like I was reading the script from very inventive porno HOWEVER I am on book 16 and love the books.  Not for the faint of heart BUT if you are looking for a kick-ass heroine, lovely man candy, great plots and character development then these books are for you!

  1. Guilty Pleasures (1993) ISBN 0-515-13449-X
  2. The Laughing Corpse (1994) ISBN 0-425-19200-8
  3. Circus of the Damned (1995) ISBN 0-515-13448-1
  4. The Lunatic Cafe (1996) ISBN 0-425-20137-6
  5. Bloody Bones (1996) ISBN 0-425-20567-3
  6. The Killing Dance (1997) ISBN 0-425-20906-7
  7. Burnt Offerings (1998) ISBN 0-515-13447-3
  8. Blue Moon (1998) ISBN 0-515-13445-7
  9. Obsidian Butterfly (2000) ISBN 0-515-13450-3
  10. Narcissus in Chains (2001) ISBN 5-558-61270-3
  11. Cerulean Sins (2003) ISBN 0-515-13681-6
  12. Incubus Dreams (2004) ISBN 0-425-19824-3
  13. Micah (February 2006) ISBN 0-515-14087-2
  14. Danse Macabre (June 2006) ISBN 0-425-20797-8
  15. The Harlequin (2007) ISBN 978-0-425-21724-5
  16. Blood Noir (2008) ISBN 978-0-425-22219-5
  17. Skin Trade (2009) ISBN 978-0-425-22772-5
  18. Flirt (February 2010)
  19. Bullet (June 2010)
Black Dagger of the Brotherhood series by J.R. Ward - These are MUST reads!  These books are about a brotherhood of vampire warriors fighting to keep their race from going extinct from some very bad guys.  Each book is about a different warrior and how their life story fits into this brotherhood.  I fell in love with each of these warriors!  These guys are big (6′6″), beautiful (think ambercrombie model), complex and they know how to have a good time.  The author does jump around  a lot to different characters talking in first person so that can be annoying but it didn’t stop me from wanting to talk one of these males home as a pet.
2.1 Dark Lover
2.2 Lover Eternal
2.3 Lover Awakened
2.4 Lover Revealed
2.5 Lover Unbound
2.6 Lover Enshrined
2.7 Lover Avenged
2.8 Lover Mine
Cat and Bones/The Night Huntress Series by Jeaniene Frost - Cat is 1/2 vampire 1/2 human that came to be because her mom was raped by a newly turned vampire.  Cat growing up feeling like an outcast and once she learns what she is she decide to kill every vampire she can get her hot little hands on.  This pursuits leads into the dangerous hands of Bones, a vampire assassin for hire.  He decides not to kill her but train her to help him.  I really liked Cat’s character AND of course I found Bones very compelling as well.
  1. Halfway to the Grave (October 30, 2007, ISBN 0061245089)
  2. One Foot in the Grave (April 29, 2008, ISBN 0061245097)
  3. At Grave’s End (December 30, 2008, ISBN 0061583073)
  4. Destined for an Early Grave (July 28, 2009, ISBN 0061583219)

The Night Huntress World Series

  1. First Drop of Crimson (February 9, 2010, ISBN 0061583227)
  2. Eternal Kiss of Darkness (July 27, 2010, ISBN 0061783161)
Riley Jenson Guardian series by Keri Arthur - I just started reading this series and I like what I’ve read so far.  The main character is Riley Jensen and she is 1/2 vampire and 1/2 werewolf.  She works for an Australian based agency that protect other worldly person from hurting humans and otherwise.  Kinda like 007 except for vampires/werewolves etc.  There is a lot of blatant sex due to the fact that werewolves go into heat the first week of the full moon and have one big orgies.  Don’t let that scare you away!  These are quick, fun, sexy reads and I’m looking forward to reading the next on the list. 1. Full Moon Rising (2006)
2. Kissing Sin (2007)
3. Tempting Evil (2007)
4. Dangerous Games (2007)
5. Embraced by Darkness (2007)
6. The Darkest Kiss (2008)
7. Deadly Desires (2009)
8. Bound to Shadows (Oct 2009)
9. Moon Sworn (May 2010)

The Immortals After Dark series by Kresley Cole - I read “a hunger like no other” and other than hating the title and the cover of the book (super cheesy!) I really enjoyed the book and characters.  There are a lot of characters and concepts to keep track of but it sucked me in and I’m going back for more.
  • “The Warlord Wants Forever” in Playing Easy To Get (anthology with Sherrilyn Kenyon and Jaid Black)
  • A Hunger Like No Other
  • No Rest for the Wicked
  • Wicked Deeds on a Winter’s Night
  • Dark Needs at Night’s Edge
  • Dark Desires After Dusk
  • Kiss of a Demon King
  • “Untouchable” in Deep Kiss of Winter (Duology with Gena Showalter
  • Pleasure of a Dark Prince - Available February 16, 2010
Women of the Other World series by Kelley Armstrong -I have read books 1-7, and 10 which were all fun, sexy and interesting reads.  I LOVED Bitten! Which is about the first and only female werewolf and her complicated story.  She is trying to make a normal life for herself but her past haunts her as well as her ex-fiance/werewolf.
Book 1: Bitten (published October, 2001 by Viking Press) Book 2: Stolen (published May, 2003 by Viking Press) Book 3: Dime Store Magic (published 2004 by Bantam Spectra) Book 4: Industrial Magic (published 2004 by Bantam Spectra) Book 5: Haunted (published 2005 by Bantam Spectra) Book 6: Broken (published May 2006 by Bantam Spectra) Book 7: No Humans Involved (published May 2007 by Bantam Spectra) Book 8: Personal Demon (published April 2008 by Bantam Spectra) Book 9: Living with the Dead (published November 2008 by Bantam Spectra) Book 10: Frostbitten (published September 2009 by Bantam Spectra) Book 11: Waking the Witch
Time Travelers Wife - Great READ!

Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanavich - I read the first book which I thought was a lot of fun.  I haven’t continued reading the series mostly because I’ve busy reading horror/fantasy/romance genera.
Queen Betsy series by MaryJanice Davidson - These were fun quick reads.  Betsy is a shoe-aholic that leads a pretty normal life until she wakes up dead.  Her shoe fetish continues as she learns she is the prophetic Queen of the vampires and makes her own path that is highly nontraditional for vampire standards.  She is a high maintenance girl that doesn’t have a shut off switch on her mouth but doesn’t mind a good brawl for a good cause.  Her love interest is yummy and the rest of the characters make for a fun read.
  1. Undead and Unwed (Berkley, 2004)
  2. Undead and Unemployed (Berkley, 2004)
  3. Undead and Unappreciated (Berkley, 2005)
  4. Undead and Unreturnable (Berkley, 2005)
  5. Undead and Unpopular (Berkley, 2006)
  6. Undead and Uneasy (Berkley, 2007)
  7. Undead and Unworthy (Berkley, 2008)
  8. Undead and Unwelcome (Berkley, 2009)

Short stories:

  • “Dead Girls Don’t Dance” in Cravings (Jove, 2004)
  • “Biting in Plain Sight” in Bite (Jove, 2004)
  • “A Fiend in Need” in Dead and Loving It (Berkley, 2006)
  • “Undead and Wed: A Honeymoon Story” in Dead Over Heels (Berkley, 2008)
Little Goddess Series by Amy Lane - I have all three books in hand and if all goes well I can give a recommendation in a week or so.
Vulnerable
Wounded
Bound
Cassandra Palmer series, written by best-selling author Karen Chance.  - I have the first book in hand and if all goes well I can give a recommendation in a week or so.
Touch the dark
Claimed by shadows
Embrace the night
Curse the dawn
Sunshine by Robin McKinley I have the book in hand and if all goes well I can give a recommendation in a week or so.
On my list:
Odd Thomas
Sunshine
Little Goddess series
Daughter of the Forest series
Moon called by Patricia Biggs
Your Scandalous Ways by Loretta Chase
After the kiss by Suzanne Enoch
On the Edge, Ilona Andrews


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Posted on : Jan 08 2010
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Posted under Mom & Dad, Parent Hacks |

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